Joyce O. Beckett

Joyce O. Beckett

Related Issues

Dr. Joyce O. Beckett received a bachelor's degree from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. Bryn Mawr College awarded her the Master's in Social Service and the Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work and Social Research. She was a research fellow in the Department of Psychiatry and the Center on Aging at Duke University in Durham, NC.

Dr. Beckett's professional career includes clinical work in: medical and psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes, halfway houses, a college counseling center, and private practice. Her academic employment began as a Lecturer at Bryn Mawr College and included Assistant and Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. After twenty years as a Professor of School of Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, she retired as Professor Emerita in 2005.

Dr. Beckett has published extensively. Her work focuses on oppressed groups such as persons of color, women, older persons, and the mentally ill. She was a Curriculum Specialist at the Geriatric Education Center at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. There she developed and taught modules for televised gerontology courses. She is particularly interested in caregiving in African American families with an Alzheimer's member and care giving over the life cycle. In 2008, Columbia University Press published her book, Lifting Our Voices: the Journeys of Professional Social Workers into Family Care-giving. She was a consultant on cross-cultural issues to such companies as AT&T. She received significant funding for training and research and several prestigious awards such as Who’s Who of American Women, Who’s Who in America, America’s Registry of Outstanding Professionals, International Who's Who of Professional and Business Women, Outstanding Young Women of America, Who’s Who in the Midwest and Who's Who among Human Service Professionals. She continues to serves on Editorial Boards of several journals.

Dr. Beckett is active in various professional and community organizations such as the National Association of Social Workers, the National Association of Black Social Workers, the National Association of University Women, Richmond Junior League and Pi Lambda Theta. Dr. Beckett is married to John C. Purnell, Jr., a retired social work administrator. They reside in Richmond. They have two children and two grandchildren.

Information and services on the Silver Planet site are provided for educational purposes only and should not be relied on for medical, legal, or financial advice; medical diagnosis; or medical treatment. Silver Planet does not make any representation as to the suitability or expertise of resources referred to on its Web site. Silver Planet does not give legal advice, and no information provided on the Web site should be so interpreted. Before relying upon content on Silver Planet, you should consult the appropriate professional(s) where you live.